My left headlight is out and from the owners manual it looks as though the only way to repair it is to go thru the wheel well. Is that correct? Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

 

That's correct, turn the wheel for access and pull those pins..... May be easier with the wheel off, and the car on stands.

Also somebody has mentioned that the old o-ring likes to stay in place on the head light assembly, so make sure you get it off before trying to install the new bulb. DO NOT touch the bulb in the process of install (but you already knew that part)

 

X 2, everything that Greybeard has said, and since you're doing one side, buy two bulbs and do the right side while you're at it.

Going on the assumption that both bulbs are the same age, if one burns out, the other usually follows not too far behind.

 

I replaced the drivers side headlight about two weeks after we bought the car.

The dealer said it would take an hour of shop time to do this simple thing. At $97 dollars an hour I figured out how to do it myself.

I only replaced the one that was burned out and probably should have gotten a pair of the ‘cool blue’ ones I desire but money is always tight around here.

 

Some time ago this issue was considered. Found a great video. Look here
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/maintenance-upkeep-50/how-replace-headlight-bulbs-2007-hhr-35938/
This will be a good help.

 

I took me less time to change both headlight bulbs than it would have taken to watch that 8+ minute video.

 

I agree with everything above if you can jack the car up and turn the wheel that will help give you a little more room and yes it is almost a guarantee. That the old gasket will stay there.
You can look through. The headlight. To help line up the new lamp when. It goes in

 

I didn't jack it up. I just turned the wheel, sat on the ground, pulled the two fasteners and changed the bulb. The o-ring stayed in the housing but that's easy enough to deal with.

 

Want to have fun?
Yesterday I tried to repeat this trick.
I turned the wheel and sat on the ground. But beyond this, the process has not moved.
First, my hand with difficulty squeezed between the wheel and Fender. I'm not lazy - got the jack and lifted the car. The hand was more freedom, but to act with a screwdriver still is very inconvenient. I'm dirty like the devil, and tore the sleeve. I froze my ass in the snow. But the worst part - I did not found a head screws that secure the plastic cover. All the space around the wheel - a powerful crust of a mixture of ice and sand.

Summary: Replacing bulbs in -19 degrees Celsius - only by a court.

 

There is a large ring on the back side of the headlight bulb you do not have to remove the plastic cover. On mine it was a real bugger to get it to turn. I was to the point of trying to remove the entire inner wheel well when I finally got it to loosen.

But with English not being your primary language you may be saying something different than I’m reading.

When I did mine I tried to get it done without removing the wheel but to gain better access I jacked the car up and did remove it, plus it was around +70 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

I have limited access to a garage if I really need to do work on the vehicle in winter.

Maybe time to clean your garage or make a friend who has a garage?